From receptionist to award-winning Audiologist, one local woman has completed an inspiring journey after a personal experience with her great-grandmother's hearing loss inspired her to pursue a career helping others.

At the age of 43, Eleanor Kendall recently celebrated graduating from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge after completing a Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Hearing Aid Audiology through a Higher Apprenticeship. Her achievement was further recognised when she was awarded the Starkey Prize for achieving the highest overall performance among the 26 students in her cohort.

Eleanor's journey into audiology began after seeing first-hand the impact that hearing loss can have on people's lives.

"My great-grandmother inspired me to become an Audiologist. Years ago, she was due to attend a hearing aid fitting, but the night before she fell and broke her hip. During the weeks she spent in hospital, I realised how difficult it was to find someone who could help improve her ability to communicate. Seeing the impact that hearing loss had on her made me think, 'Maybe this is something I could do.' That experience stayed with me and ultimately led me to pursue a career in audiology."

Eleanor joined local hearing care provider South West Hearing Care in February 2023 as a receptionist but quickly discovered a passion for supporting patients beyond the front desk. She progressed to become a Hearing Care Assistant before starting her Higher Apprenticeship in September 2024, allowing her to combine academic study with practical experience within the practice.

Speaking about her achievement, Eleanor said:

"Choosing to study later in life was one of the best decisions I've made. The apprenticeship allowed me to put my learning into practice every day, which made the experience incredibly rewarding. I feel very fortunate to work in a career that combines science with helping people.

"Being able to improve someone's quality of life while building lasting relationships with our patients is incredibly rewarding."

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Following her qualification, Eleanor will now see patients at South West Hearing Care's Street and Crewkerne clinics, carrying out comprehensive hearing assessments, prescribing hearing aids and providing personalised advice on the latest hearing technology.

As a qualified Hearing Aid Audiologist, Eleanor will also be able to use advanced assessment tools, including speech-in-noise testing, to help understand how patients hear in challenging listening environments and ensure they receive recommendations based on their individual needs.

Her qualification also strengthens South West Hearing Care's clinical team, helping the practice provide more appointments while continuing to offer the thorough, personalised care its patients value.

Owner and Lead Audiologist Simon Swindells said:

"We are all incredibly proud of Ele on graduating from Anglia Ruskin University and qualifying as an Audiologist. Over the past two years, she has shown tremendous dedication, balancing her studies alongside work and home life. Her hard work and commitment have been rewarded, and this is a fantastic achievement.

"At South West Hearing Care, we believe that investing in our people is one of the best ways to invest in our patients. Supporting colleagues to develop their professional skills means we can continue to provide the highest standard of hearing care while giving patients access to knowledgeable, confident clinicians.

"Having Ele qualify as an Audiologist strengthens our team and means we can continue to support more people across Somerset with their hearing health."

South West Hearing Care now has three qualified Audiologists within its team, with Eleanor joining Simon Swindells and Cathy Cass in providing independent hearing care across Somerset and Wiltshire.